9-11 preparations in Washington and elsewhere

Music, flags, lanterns, ribbons

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September 9, 2011

Good thing they don’t believe in omens at Washington National Cathedral. Last month, the East Coast earthquake caused sizable damage to the huge, gothic-style structure. Then this past Wednesday, a crane brought in for repairs fell over, damaging two more buildings on the grounds.

A source for the cathedral says engineers don’t yet have an idea of why the crane fell or how much the damage will add to repair costs. "Millions of dollars" was her best guess -- considering it will add to the millions already projected for the main cathedral building.

The planned free "Concert to Heal," has been postponed, but the church is pressing forward with other 10th anniversary events -- with help from friends.

Moving to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will be a "Concert to Honor" tonight (Sept. 9), with the Marine Chamber Orchestra and the U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters. The military-oriented concert will feature remarks from Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.

JFK Center also will host the "Concert for Hope" on Sunday, where President Obama will speak. A very diverse slate of singers will include opera star Denyce Graves, country singer Alan Jackson and r&b singer Patti LaBelle.

Also still on the schedule is an interfaith vigil on the grounds Sunday morning. Washington Hebrew Congregation will host a commemorative Eucharistic service on Sunday, which will also feature a forum with religious author Karen Armstrong.

The misfortunes hitting the cathedral may have approached biblical proportions. But the staff's persistence, and the programs themselves, are on a scale befitting a place called the "spiritual home of the nation."

9-11 observed elsewhere

The state of interfaith conversations will be examined in -- what else? -- an interfaith conversation at Harvard University. Religion professor Diana Eck, founder of Harvard's Pluralism Project, will headline a panel that will also include a student and a Zoroastrian chaplain.

Music, dance and readings will mark a 9-11 program at Harvard called "The Art of Survival." Presented by the Mahindra Humanities Center, the program will explore "themes of imagination and empathy, survival and solidarity, anxiety and security," according to advance materials.

Here are some other planned events, reported by the Pluralism Project and others.

Ribbon of Hope:Members of the New York-based Groundswell Movement are weaving together thousands of ribbons contributed by people around the nation. They plan to produce a tapestry, then display it around the city and elsewhere as a "movement monument" to hope.

Do unto others: The Golden Rule in 10 religions -- recited by 10 children of those faiths -- will be part of the 9-11 observance by the Arizona Interfaith Movement in Phoenix.

Lighting the way: Sikhs, Buddhists and interfaith leaders in New York will float lanterns on the Hudson River on Sunday night, as a traditional East Asian memorial for the dead. Their program will include prayer, chants and meditation.

Flagging enthusiasm: The Peace Flag Project, which encourages people to design flags embodying their hopes for peace, will join other groups in Rhode Island for a 10th anniversary rally. "Lost But Not Forgotten at Wall of Hope" is planned for the WaterPlace Park in downtown Providence.